Friday, 17 July 2015

Ashley Carew brings the fun

Hit square off the laces, the lofted pass from the southern-most
point of the centre-circle over to the right wing is a thing of absolute beauty. It’s
the perfect example of making the ball do the work – many a defending wide-midfield player has been completely taken out of a game by this relatively
simple skill.Lean back, aim for the sweet spot just below the centre of
the ball and stand and admire the pleasing arc of your inch-perfect
quarter-back delivery. Really bloody fun.

Around eight minutes into Dulwich Hamlet’s first game of
their 2015-16 pre-season programme, this was exactly what Ashley Carew did.
Danny Waldren’s short pass rolled invitingly in front of him and as the ball
began to slow to a stop Carew leant back, aimed for just below the centre of the
ball and watched his lofted pass drop onto the toe of Albert Jarrett. I caught
the eye of a friend and we nodded appreciatively.

Photo: Joel Virgo Photography

Jarrett then took Peterborough United’s left-back this way and
that before sending in a cross that whipped over the bar for a goal-kick. By
the time the cross came in, the bypassed left-midfielder had caught up with
play and doubled up on Jarrett – all advantage had been lost.Carew might well
have returned Waldren’s pass to whence it came – it would’ve been the safer
option. He might’ve helped the ball on to Mitchell Nelson at right-back – it would have dragged the opposition out of position. He might have done all manner of
sensible things. But he didn’t. Because that’s not fun.

Photo: brixtonbuzz.com

Three days later, with Dulwich 5-0 down at home to Altona 93, Carew (along with several other first-team players) entered from the bench.
Jacob Erskine tapped in for 5-1, Carew himself bent home a 23-yard free-kick
(5.45 into these highlights) for 5-2 with four minutes remaining – Dulwich were
finishing with a flourish.

As the clock ticked into the final minute Danny Waldren received a short pass
from Carew (6.13 into highlights). Waldren (in what already seems a trademark
move) allowed the ball across his body before chopping back with the outside of
his right foot and rolling a pass back to Matt Drage. Drage in turn rolled the
ball back to Carew, six yards back from that sweet spot at the back of the centre circle.

Carew pushed the ball out of his feet and towards the sweet spot before planting
his left foot next to the ball and drilling a 40-yard pass over the head of the
Altona left-back and onto the right-foot of an onrushing Jarrett who
finished high into the roof of the net.Carew could have returned the ball to
Drage – it was the final minute, best to just run the clock down. He could have
swept a ball out to the right-back – it was the final minute, best to just run
the clock down. But he didn’t – because that’s not fun.

Photo: Joel Virgo Photography

Throughout his time with Dulwich, Carew has done things for
fun. He’s rolled the ball under his foot, for fun. He’s thrown a second, a
third step-over, for fun. He’s threaded a through-ball and looked the other
way, for fun. His critics (and there are a number) claim that this is his
downfall, that you can’t and shouldn’t have a player like him at this level,
that his style of play is detrimental to the team.There may well be some truth
in all of those views but, frankly, who cares? Watching Ashley Carew do things
for fun is really bloody fun.Follow Forward The Hamlet on Twitter: @ForwardHamletLike Forward The Hamlet on Facebook: Forward the HamletFollow Dulwich Hamlet on Twitter: @DulwichHamletFCFollow Ben on Twitter: @vicar_of_sibley